TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The Iranian Navy's 27th fleet of warships managed to save an Iranian oil tanker from pirates in the Gulf of Aden, a senior navy commander said.

Lieutenant Commander of the Iranian Navy for Operations Admiral Siavash Jareh announced on Sunday that the country’s naval forces foiled a pirate attack against an Iranian oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden.

According to the commander, servicemen on board Iran’s 27th fleet could force the pirates away from the Iranian vessel yesterday, but added that pirates, thereafter, added to the number of their forces and once again carried out an attack on the same oil tanker this morning.

The Iranian naval forces responded to the attack with heavy gunfire and damaged some of their fast boats, forcing them to escape, Jareh added.

In a similar operation in September, the Iranian Navy's 27th fleet of warships rescued 8 Yemeni fishermen on two separate boats near the Yemeni port city of al-Mokha in the Red Sea.

The Iranian forces saved the wandering boats and supplied the fishermen with foods after pirates had stolen the two vessels’ cargos, deactivated the engines and left the Yemeni fishermen alone in the sea.

The Iranian Navy's 27th fleet of warships docked in Port Sudan on September 18 as part of its mission to convey Iran's message of peace and friendship to the regional countries.

The fleet of warships is comprised of Kharg warship and Sabalan destroyer. Khark has 250 crewmembers and can carry three helicopters.

Since November 2008, the Iranian navy has conducted anti-piracy missions in the Gulf of Aden and Bab el-Mendeb strait to protect the country's cargo ships and oil tankers against pirates.

Under the terms of several UN Security Council resolutions, nations can deploy warships to the Gulf of Aden and coastal waters of Somalia to protect their vessels against the pirates and, after giving notice to Somali government, enter Somali territorial in pursuit of the pirates.